Texas Nabs Predators On MySpace

(CBS)  MySpace, the social-networking site, is so popular with kids and young people that it registers a quarter-million new profiles every day. But for the first time, MySpace is giving up the names of the sex offenders among them, CBS News correspondent Hari Sreenivasan.

A bust in Texas on Thursday brought in guys like 49-year-old Patrick Blevins of Houston, who did eight years behind bars for sexually assaulting a 14-year-old girl. He was released in 2004, but authorities say his page on MySpace.com violated his parole by being on the Internet.

"Mr. Blevins' arrest highlights the gravity and urgency of the situation we are dealing with," said Texas attorney general Greg Abbott. "These predators are incorrigible; they will stop at nothing in order to try and find their next victim."

Blevins was one of seven sex offenders caught after MySpace, the world's largest online social network — and especially popular with teens — agreed last month to start cross-referencing its user information with sex offender registries.

None of those arrested in Texas is known to have committed any new crimes, but investigators are still working with MySpace to identify possible victims.

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Read more about MySpace and Internet predators

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"We wanted to arrest these people as quickly as possible," Abbott said.

Texas is one of two dozen states now getting information MySpace to identity sex offenders who might be trolling the Internet.

"Parents need to understand there are predators on the Internet who are more vicious than those who used to lurk in parks or playgrounds," Abbott said.

[leopoldthelm]

What has that got to do with logging onto the Internet? Do you feel that women are incapable of passing along morals, teaching children about sexual predators and safety online?

The women are very capable, but she has to do everything! While she is cooking, cleaning, working, washing, shopping, etc,; after she has taught the morals, someone needs to be on guard to make sure that the rules are being followed!

The women are doing too much!

[moonfire1-2009]

I suggest that people read these proposed laws very carefully and from a neutral view point (in other words through logic and common sense not emotion and fear.)

They have some good stuff they want to do, like;

"toughen penalties for promoting child prostitution or producing child porn. "

People have to read all of the proposed laws, etc. Many times politicians leave key factors out when they talk with the public. I guess they see us as to stupid to comprehend it all. Or maybe it is for other reasons, I don't know. But I have learned never to outright trust any politician. It is not paranoia, just based on the fact that there are to many examples of corrupt politicians in office and formerly in office. They seem to be more interested in doing what they want and distracting us from that.

[jolsonbear]

Something rally need to be done about the vicious children taking advantage of older men.

[arohanui-2009]

I am glad I am a baby boomer and raised my three children WITHOUT a computer in the house. Poor things played sports, hung out at friends places,kicked the footie with the neighbour's kids in the backyard, walked to the local shops, rode their bikes and then sat down at the dinner table each night to talk about their day before they did homework, read a book or watched a bit of TV.
And now they are all in successful careers and law abiding citizens in good relationships. All this, without Myspace to maintain their social networks lol

[wiccantexan]

I am getting a huge laugh out of this. Why? Well I have heard people say they do this to stay in contact with family or friends. So what you are telling me is that there is no other way to keep up with them other then MySpace?
Posted by moonfire1 at 03:41 PM : Jun 15, 2007

No, it means that is one way we like to. Blogging is becoming a usual way for many folks to socialize, especially if they have vastly differing schedules and cannot see each other in person that often. If minor relatives choose MySpace, then I'll meet them there.

[moonfire1-2009]

Page 1/2

I am getting a huge laugh out of this. Why? Well I have heard people say they do this to stay in contact with family or friends. So what you are telling me is that there is no other way to keep up with them other then MySpace?

For the safety of all children, wouldn't it be better to have separate things anyway? I find it funny that people some how think the only dangers are from the people they know about. Well I am sorry. I am cautious around everyone and I tell my kids that as well. Just because someone doesn't appear to be a danger does NOT mean they are not a danger.

I don't like MySpace, I think the whole idea for a combined social network for all ages is a time bomb for all sorts of problems. However I am familiar with various forms of social network scripts, etc.

Now everyone is talking about safety. Let me ask you this. I do know that MySpace has a privacy option. If this is being used then only people that can access a persons page are those on their list. If, as some people have stated, it is only used for family members to stay in touch with each other, then why would someone make it public? Also why would parents allow their children to have public profiles when the dangers online come from more places then just *** offenders?

[moonfire1-2009]

Part 2/2

Now from the home front. Where are parents when their children are online? Again, why would parents allow their kids profiles, etc, to be made public? Also their are many ways to monitor a child's internet activities without being over their shoulder 24/7. There are also free ways to limit and filter material kids can access online, one good, free program that comes to mind is K9 Web Protection.

So with all the options out there please don't sit there and tell me that MySpace is the only place you can stay in touch with family online. Now that brings me back to my original statement. There needs to be a separate section for teens and adults. Use common sense, MySpace should ID everyone for the safety of all. Parents that have children under 14 should know better because it is against the MySpace rules.

So again, with all the options available for families to stay in touch with each other, why do people feel they need be part of a social network that has children, or like the articles states, a lot of children. Parents want to keep an eye on their children? There are other ways to do this as well.

I am one of those rare people that has actually watched what my kids where doing online. That didn't mean I had to join everything they did. They play Sims Online, I did NOT join Sims to keep an eye on them, I did other things. It had nothing to do with me not trusting them and they know this.

[wiccantexan]

And by the way...that goes for all the women who are "predators" too. There are PLENTY of them out there but it's just looked at differently.
Posted by dragonmouse at 01:57 PM : Jun 15, 2007

Tell me about it! My husband, age 51, recently deleted his MySpace account because he was tired of all the inbox spam of pretty (often scantily clothed) females who wanted him to "come look at my site." A legitimate user chased off by stupid women.

[mercyme884]

Seems to me that when talking about the internet you have no givens so why talk about age limits? You never know who you are talking to anyway.Because you can say anything you want make up a ton of lies. Tell some 13 year old ,assuming she put her right age and tell her you are 17 when you are actually 45 but surprise! surprise! She is 51 what a disappointment for both the perverts.

[dragonmouse-2009]

I personally am not a fan of My Space. I don't like the idea of putting everything about your person out there for anybody to check out. I EMAIL friends. Yeah I know somebody can get to that too but...It's not like just "advertising". But...different strokes. What I can't understand is these MORONS who are on My Space looking for kids. Will these people EVER wake up???

Not only would I like to see them all arrested I'd like to see them removed from the gene pool. And by the way...that goes for all the women who are "predators" too. There are PLENTY of them out there but it's just looked at differently.